FIB-3 index as a novel age-independent predictor of liver fibrosis and prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma patients undergoing hepatectomy.

Background: Liver fibrosis is a key factor in the progression of chronic liver diseases, including viral hepatitis and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. If untreated, fibrosis can progress to cirrhosis, increasing the risk of liver cancer or failure. This study evaluates the Fibrosis (FIB)-3 index, a novel marker free from age-related biases, for predicting liver fibrosis and 5-year outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing hepatectomy.

Customized Chromosomal Microarrays for Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

Background: Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), are genetically complex and often linked to structural genomic variations such as copy number variants (CNVs). Current diagnostic strategies face challenges in interpreting the clinical significance of such variants.

Methods: We developed a customized, gene-oriented chromosomal microarray (CMA) targeting 6026 genes relevant to neurodevelopment, aiming to improve diagnostic yield and candidate gene prioritization.

Far from being the end of the road: taking a closer look at neuropalliative care in Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is now recognized as a multisystem, heterogeneous neurodegenerative disease with fluctuating trajectories and complex symptom profiles. Despite therapeutic advances, many patients (particularly women and those in late stages) and their caregivers face substantial unmet needs across physical, psychological, social, and spiritual domains, which highlight the need for a more integrative care model. Palliative care, defined as holistic, person-centered care for individuals with life-limiting illnesses, is increasingly recognized as particularly relevant in PD, from early to terminal stages.

Microbiome-Based Products: Therapeutic Potential for Inflammatory Skin Diseases.

Maintaining a balanced skin microbiota is essential for skin health, whereas disruptions in skin microbiota composition, known as dysbiosis, can contribute to the onset and progression of various skin disorders. Microbiota dysbiosis has been associated with several inflammatory skin conditions, including atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, acne, psoriasis, and rosacea. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing and metagenomic analyses have provided a deeper understanding of the skin microbial communities in both health and disease.

Total Synthesis of (+)-Penicyclone A and Evaluation of Biological Activity Including Intermediate Compounds.

Penicyclone A is a polyketide compound with a unique and intriguing structure recently isolated from the fungus sp. F23-2 during an OSMAC (one-strain-many-compounds) campaign. The compound demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity without exhibiting any cytotoxic effects, which prompted us to pursue total synthesis of the reported enantiomer.

Time to consider fracture nonunion an orphan disease? An update into pathophysiology, epidemiology and therapeutic solutions.

Purpose: Fracture non-union (FNU) is a rare complication of bone fractures where healing does not occur without surgical intervention. This paper aims to summarize the current knowledge on FNUs from an orphan disease perspective, and to provide an overview of existing and some emerging treatment options.

Methods: Literature review.

Outcomes of Liver Transplantation Among Patients Diagnosed With Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure: A Single-Center Experience.

Background: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) describes the rapid deterioration of liver function triggered by factors including alcohol consumption, infection(s), and exacerbation(s) of chronic liver disease, and is characterized by a persistent "cytokine storm." While liver transplantation is the most effective treatment, comprehensive data regarding patient outcomes are limited.

Methods: Clinical data from 187 patients, who underwent liver transplantation (excluding re-transplantations and acute liver failure) between 2009 and 2023, were analyzed in accordance with Japan's ACLF diagnostic criteria.

Local Postprocedural Cryoprevention Significantly Reduces the Incidence of Post-ERCP Pancreatitis: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: Postendoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis (PEP) is a common, potentially serious adverse event of ERCP. Although rectal nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are recommended for prevention, their use in Japan is limited due to dosage concerns. This multicenter randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of ice water irrigation to the papilla in reducing PEP.

High Antitumor Effects and Reduced Side Effects of Doxorubicin Prodrug Active Only Under Hypoxic Conditions.

Background/aim: Doxorubicin (DOX) is the most impactful drug developed for osteosarcoma. However, despite its therapeutic effects, it also causes serious side effects, such as cardiotoxicity and hemotoxicity. To address this, we developed a novel DOX prodrug that exhibits high antitumor activity specifically in hypoxic regions while demonstrating low toxicity in normal organs.

Serum proteins and faecal microbiota as potential biomarkers in newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome patients.

Molecular biomarkers are valuable tools to predict the disease and determine its course. Several markers have been associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); however, none is sufficiently reliable to enable accurate diagnosis. We characterized a broad panel of serum proteins to assess disease-specific biomarker profiles and associate these findings with faecal microbiota composition in newly diagnosed IBD and IBS patients and healthy individuals.

Association between estimated daily salt intake from spot urine and nocturnal blood pressure in hypertensive patients under antihypertensive treatment.

Background: Excessive salt intake is a major contributor to hypertension and is associated with elevated nocturnal blood pressure (BP), particularly in the elderly and individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD), metabolic syndrome (MetS), or diabetes, who are prone to nocturnal BP elevation in response to high salt intake. Although estimation of salt intake from spot urine is widely used, the relationship of estimated salt intake from spot urine with nighttime BP in treated patients with hypertension remains unclear.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed 209 hypertensive patients receiving antihypertensive therapy.

Chronic esaxerenone treatment improves vascular function and lowers peripheral arterial stiffness in patients with idiopathic hyperaldosteronism.

Objective: Primary aldosteronism is one of the most common types of secondary endocrine hypertension. Treatment with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists is recommended for bilateral idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of esaxerenone, a nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist with high mineralocorticoid receptor-binding specificity, on vascular function and peripheral arterial stiffness in patients with IHA.

Histological study of donor/recipient feasibility in distal nerve transfer for the upper limb nerve injury.

This study aimed to histologically investigate whether the compatibility of donor and recipient nerves in distal nerve transfer for radial and ulnar nerve palsy is suitable for restoring nerve function. Partial median to radial nerve transfer for radial nerve palsy and partial median to ulnar nerve transfer for ulnar nerve palsy were performed in 10 cadaveric upper limbs fixed using the Thiel technique. Histological analysis of the nerve samples at the coaptation site focused on the number of myelinated axons.

Effects of Silk-Elastin and SpheroSeev Mixture and Minced Cartilage on Cartilage Repair in Rabbit Osteochondral Defect Models.

Background: Autologous chondrocyte implantation, a 2-stage, costly procedure, has limitations, prompting the development of 1-step techniques utilizing autologous minced cartilage (MC). However, novel scaffolds for cell migration and proliferation are needed to enhance their effectiveness.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of silk-elastin and SpheroSeev (SESS) scaffolds in enhancing chondrocyte activity and promoting cartilage repair in a rabbit model of osteochondral defect repair.

Association of eNOS T786C genetic polymorphism with the risk of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Background: Unruptured intracranial aneurysms (IAs) are increasingly detected due to advancements in neuroimaging. Despite improvements in treatment, aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) is associated with high mortality and morbidity. Treatment decisions for IA are complex and individualized, considering aneurysm and patient-related risk factors.

Renal protective effects of extracellular vesicle-encapsulated tumor necrosis factor-α-induced protein 6 derived from mesenchymal stem cells.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is involved in subsequent chronic kidney disease (CKD) development, and effective treatments to prevent AKI to CKD progression are lacking. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are emerging as a promising cellular therapy to impede such progression through the secretion of various humoral factors. Among these factors, tumor necrosis factor-α-induced protein 6 (TSG-6) has a central role in the anti-inflammatory effects of MSCs.

Quantitative assessment of ECRB tendon degeneration in lateral epicondylitis using CT hounsfield units: correlation with histological and MRI findings.

Background: Lateral epicondylitis (LE) is characterized by enthesopathy and tendon degeneration of the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) attachment. Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can reveal pathological changes, quantitative evaluation methods remain limited. This study aimed to quantify ECRB tendon degeneration on computed tomography (CT) using Hounsfield unit (HU) values.

Effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on clinical parameters in atherosclerotic peripheral artery disease patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia.

Chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) is a major public health problem. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has been shown to improve ischemic limb conditions in patients with CLTI. However, the possible mechanisms of these benefits require further understanding.

Nighttime blood pressure-targeted antihypertensive treatment.

Objectives: Nocturnal hypertension is increasingly recognized as a significant risk factor for cardiovascular events. However, there is limited information on whether antihypertensive treatment directly targeting nighttime blood pressure (BP) improves cardiovascular outcomes in medicated patients with hypertension. In this prospective multicenter study, we investigated whether aggressive adjustments in antihypertensive drug treatment targeting nighttime BP can effectively normalize nocturnal hypertension and assessed the safety of this approach.